The Villain's Counterattack

Chapter 265 He is the only one who shoulders everything

Amidst several loud bangs of "Bang! Bang! Bang!", clouds of smoke quickly spread out, and it was pitch dark around the golden tent. Flashes of golden light appeared, and the torches in the nearby braziers quickly went out. Bursts of violent coughing were heard, and everyone was in chaos.

"No more chaos, everyone retreat five hundred steps!" Temujin sat in the golden tent, with two maids holding daggers protecting him behind him. They were maids and also carefully selected guards, but in front of Yang Kang, they were as fragile as babies and were of no use at all.

Yang Kang, disguised as a Mongolian soldier, left the camp very easily, destroyed their stables and released a large number of war horses, and then used his lightness skills to leave quickly. The furious Temujin gave orders and mobilized tens of thousands of troops but still could not find Yang Kang, and he fainted first.

Temujin knew his time had come. Yang Kang's palm strike was definitely no ordinary blow. Seeing the clear palm print on Yang Kang's desk, he felt a chill in his heart. Was he assassinated? The Central Plains was full of talented people, and this Jin prince was truly formidable. As for how he left, Temujin still couldn't figure it out.

In the end, it came down to a collaboration between inside and outside. Yang Kang sent out a signal, and the spy released the horses to create chaos. Yang Kang took advantage of the chaos to escape, but how he left the Golden Tent puzzled Temujin. He even dug three feet into the ground but couldn't find any secret passages.

Temujin felt his arms growing weaker and weaker, and he knew that Yang Kang had not lied that day. However, among so many doctors, no one could heal him, and the witch doctors and priests were also powerless. He knew that his end was near, so he sent messengers to summon the princes who were away.

Yang Kang achieved his goal. Dressed in Mongolian attire, he galloped across the grasslands, heading straight for the Western Regions. He found many of the things he needed at White Camel Villa, where Ouyang Feng was staying. His men were gone, but his belongings were not lost. He had previously tricked Ouyang Feng into revealing information, and during their intimate time at Prince Qi's mansion, Ouyang Feng had revealed much of the White Camel Villa's information to Yang Kang.

Yang Kang was no match for any of the mechanisms, poisonous snakes, or traps, and the servants left behind were no match for him. Yang Kang put Ouyang Feng's collection into the storage space without even alerting them. He came quietly and left quietly, taking only the inheritance of the White Camel Villa.

When Yang Kang went to the desert, Tolui and Mu Huali led their troops to attack Daliang, but they failed because of the delay of Sha Tongtian, Hou Tonghai, Peng Lianhu and others. Then the Mongolian army rushed all the way and actually reached Xiangyang. If Guo Jing and Huang Rong had not appeared in time, Xiangyang City would have fallen.

Despite Huang Rong's intelligence and Guo Jing's valor, the Xiangyang garrison proved weak, allowing the Mongol army to easily discover the city's strengths and weaknesses. To resolve the crisis and prevent the massacre of innocent civilians, Guo Jing and Huang Rong invaded the military camp at night to assassinate Tolui. Just then, an envoy arrived, bearing news that Genghis Khan had summoned them back, saving Tolui's life.

When Guo Jing heard that Genghis Khan was seriously ill, he jumped out regardless of being exposed. The messenger conveyed Genghis Khan's message that Guo Jing, the golden sword prince consort, should go back to the desert with him. Guo Jing dragged Huang Rong along, but he was afraid of another setback and losing his beloved.

Tuo Lei, Guo Jing, and Huang Rong, along with the envoy and a team of guards, quickly set off ahead, ordering the deputy commander to return with the troops. On the way, the envoy revealed the true situation. "The Great Khan fell ill after conquering the Western Xia. His condition has recurred, but it's not serious. Some time ago, the King of Qi of the Jin Kingdom sneaked into the Golden Tent alone, drank with the Great Khan, struck him with a palm, and disappeared. The Khan has been ill ever since."

Guo Jing and Huang Rong exchanged bewildered glances, each recalling the song "Man's Song" sung by Yang Kang at the foot of Mount Hua. His murderous intent was directed at Genghis Khan. While this felt unpleasant, they had to admit that this was indeed a way to bring peace to the Central Plains for a long time. With Genghis Khan's death, the question of who would succeed him became their biggest challenge. Before a new heir was chosen, they couldn't launch a large-scale invasion of the Central Plains.

Guo Jing fell silent. His feelings towards Yang Kang were complex. Judging from their relationship with Yang Tiexin, they should have been sworn brothers. Although Yang Kang was in the Jin Kingdom, he always considered the Han people. Guo Jing admired his martial arts, knowledge and courage. He had ruined his plans several times. He had saved Tolui, which led to the alliance between Mongolia and the Song Dynasty, and attacked Khwarezm, which thwarted his plan to instigate a war between the two ethnic groups, ultimately giving Mongolia enough strength to invade the Central Plains.

At this time, what he thought of was to lead the troops to resist, but he sneaked into the Golden Tent of the Mongolian Khan alone, found a breakthrough by assassinating the Khan, and successfully resolved the war disaster in the Central Plains. He had called himself a little traitor before, and Guo Jing was angry, but now he really had nothing to say. Compared with Yang Kang, he was far inferior.

What is the concept of assassinating the Mongolian Khan? Are the Yang Kang brothers really safe now?

After all, he shouldered everything alone.

Huang Rong thought carefully, then said softly and reassuringly, "Brother Jing, don't worry. Yang Kang's martial arts are superb. His Vajra Indestructible Art, which has taken a hundred years to master in Shaolin, is truly formidable. Ordinary weapons can't hurt him at all. He actually dared to sneak into the Golden Tent alone and stay there for so long, quietly waiting for the army to close in. He must have a plan to escape. As long as we don't hear of his death, that's the best news."

As she spoke, Huang Rong suddenly realized that he had to delay for a reason, waiting for the crowd to close in. The more people there were, the more chaotic the situation would be, and the easier it would be for him to escape. No wonder he had learned the art of disguise, but this was the reason. However, this trick couldn't be leaked to others, otherwise it wouldn't work the next time.

You are a proud man, and being forced to use such means must have made you feel bad. Not being able to defeat the enemy on the battlefield is a failure for someone as proud as you. Huang Rong couldn't help but feel heartbroken for Yang Kang. Could that man, who was invincible and seemed to have no difficulty, also feel tired and helpless?

Inside the Chang'an Palace, Yang Kang and Wanyan Honglie drank and chatted, but it was Wanyan Honglie who was happy, not Yang Kang. Huang Rong knew Yang Kang well, and just as she had imagined, if conditions allowed, Yang Kang would have truly wanted to lead a hundred thousand soldiers and join Temujin in a hunt across the desert. However, he had been young when Temujin rose to power, and by the time he reached adulthood, he was already quite old. Furthermore, the gap between the Jin soldiers and the Mongol army was too great. Although he was proud, he was not arrogant.

"Kang'er was right to injure Temujin instead of killing him. The Mongolian army is brutal and violent. If their Khan was assassinated, they would certainly launch an attack on the Jin Dynasty. The furious Mongolian army might massacre to vent their anger. You only injure him but not kill him. This gives Temujin the opportunity to send a message to the princes and generals under his command. On the one hand, it can prompt them to withdraw their troops. On the other hand, Temujin will surely die. After his death, the grassland will enter a period of chaos. This is a great opportunity for us." Wanyan Honglie was very excited. His son risked his life to fight for this opportunity for him, but he couldn't waste it easily.

Yang Kang nodded and said, "According to accurate intelligence, Tolui has already retreated. He and his guards have galloped into the grasslands. The remaining troops are also retreating. There is not much point in chasing Tolui, and it is unlikely that we can catch up. My idea is to surprise attack the main Mongolian force and annihilate them on their way back."

"This is exactly what I want. This is an opportunity for our Great Jin Kingdom to be proud. With the four armies of Liaodong, Shandong, Daliang and Tongguan coming out together, the Mongolian army will be destroyed!" Wanyan Honglie pulled Yang Kang and pointed at the mountains and rivers on the map.

Yang Kang shook his head and said, "Forget Daliang. They don't have the guts to provoke the Mongol army. They can't even protect themselves, so how could they possibly cooperate with us in a counterattack? We might not be able to command Liaodong unless there's enough to gain. Shandong isn't a big problem, but we need to be quick. If the weather gets cold, things will get really bad."

Wanyan Honglie gnashed his teeth as he looked at the two regions of Daliang and Liaodong on the map. He then shook his head and sighed, "This is the only way. Kang'er will lead the troops in this battle. Anyone who disobeys will be executed first and reported later."

Yang Kang nodded indifferently and said, "We will arrange the plan properly. It doesn't matter who gives the orders. However, I need to rush back to Shandong in person. Only I can lead the troops in person to confront the Mongolian army head-on."

"This is very hard for Kang'er. By the way, my grandson Shoucheng has been born for so long, but I have never held him in my arms. Bring him to see me next time."

"Let's wait a little longer. He's too young now and can't even walk. Once he can talk, I'll take him for a walk. Keeping him in the backyard is not a good idea. My son must be a strong man, and he must be a strong man."

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Hongli couldn't help but shake his head slightly. This child was really honest. Never mind, being a hostage didn't matter. This child might not be able to inherit the throne of the Jin Dynasty because he actually gave birth to a little son. This made his mind change a little. Although he still doted on Yang Kang, he might not like his grandson whom he had never met so much. After all, he was a Han child.

"That child is your eldest son after all. I plan to make him a king. What do you think?" Wanyan Honglie's words had a hidden meaning. Yang Kang is now the King of Qi. His eldest son is born to be the Crown Prince of Qi and will inherit the throne of Qi in the future. Yang Kang also gave him a name that means maintaining the status quo. However, Wanyan Honglie still said such words. It seemed like praise but it had other intentions.

"Starting from Jiaodong, there is the large island of Zhoushan down the sea to the south. This island is close to Taihu Lake, and Taihu Lake is close to the small imperial court of Lin'an, but this is not a long-term solution. Thousands of miles south of Zhoushan, there is a large island called Ryukyu. Thousands of miles south of Ryukyu is a large island called Luzon. If your father is willing, you can make him the King of Luzon." Yang Kang said indifferently, "I will eventually hand over Shandong to your father, but not now. No one can stop the Mongol army. If I retreat now, Shandong will surely be lost."

Wanyan Honglie felt a little uncomfortable with Yang Kang's blunt words. He knew that he was thinking clearly, but because the child was a pure Han Chinese, he could not let him ascend the throne. After becoming emperor, Wanyan Honglie changed a lot.

"Kang'er, that child is not you after all. For the stability of the Jin Dynasty, your father has to do this." Yang Kang did not believe a single punctuation mark in Wanyan Honglie's words, but nodded anyway. Then Wanyan Honglie wrote with a stroke of his pen, and Yang Shoucheng got his own title: King of Song.

Yang Kang couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook his head. How much do you hate him? You are trying to attract so much hatred. But Luzon is also Song, and there is nothing wrong with this title.